Sizzahl let the Senator into her sanctum with the key she rarely ever used.

“Your father had more secrets than I knew, didn’t he?” asked Makkhain with a resigned sigh.

“Yes. Truthfully, he didn’t trust you totally because you are always so anxious to go to war over everything. Father believed we needed to at least try peaceful solutions.”

“That is the one thing about your father that makes him a hopeless fool. Galtorrians are a warrior people. We solve our problems by removing the greatest threats by force.”

“But you can’t declare war on toxic chemicals and gas, and then just kill them. Those problems are not mortal.”

Makkhain nodded. “I did not believe that your father could reverse the pollution problem. I thought scientists had already doomed us, making the war unwinnable. I took steps to undermine their efforts. I may have made a terrible mistake.”

“What did you do?”

“I targeted your father’s installations for destruction.”

“But he didn’t tell you where the atmosphere scrubbers were located. He didn’t trust you, so he gave you misinformation.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“Of course I do. They are operating under my direction.”

“Will you tell me where they are now that I have found you again and vowed to protect you?”

“No. I love you, Uncle Makk, but I don’t trust you any more than Daddy did.”

“What? Why?”

“It is too important that we keep them optimally operating. We cannot allow them to be interfered with in any way. The only way I won’t keep them going is if I decide our world is not worth saving.”

“Not worth saving? What are you talking about?”

“Galtorrians are alpha predators on this planet. They can’t be at peace because they are dedicated to killing, maiming, and destroying. They are vicious and without morals because it is in their genetic make-up to be that way. Creatures like us deserve to die and make way for a better, more thoughtful race of beings.”

“That’s what the Galtorrian/Human fusions are for?”

“Of course. I will save this world… but I intend to save it for them.”

Makkhain’s lizard eyes were glowering at Sizzahl with undisguised menace and loathing. Was this the uncle she loved? The only relative who had ever treated her like a worthy being, and not just some brain-blossoming freak? Or had his adventures during the war changed him somehow?

“Well, I don’t expect you to save the world for me. I am nearly at the end of my road no matter what.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Senator Tedhkruhz finds us… and he soon will with the tracking mechanisms implanted in my body… he will slay me once and for all, and use all the information he can torture out of you to squash your father’s legacy. Our destruction is, after all, guaranteed.”